Singer and voice teacher Debra Byrd has died.
“The star passed away at her home in Los Angeles on Tuesday. She was well-known for appearing on popular TV shows like ‘The Voice’ and ‘American Idol.’
According to Deadline, the exact cause of Debra’s death hasn’t been confirmed yet.
Many famous people, including Barry Manilow, who was a close friend and colleague, have shared heartfelt tributes honoring Debra’s life.”
Barry shared a sad message on his social media.
“Today has been the saddest day of my life. I can’t believe that Debra won’t be with me anymore,” he wrote.
“She was one of my closest friends ever. My dear, I will always miss you.”
Many famous people worked with Debra, such as Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Clarkson, and Bob Dylan.
Jennifer expressed her sadness on X (formerly Twitter).
“I am heartbroken over the loss of Debra Byrd, the vocal coach on American Idol,” she said. “From the beginning, she gave us hope and support!”
“It’s incredible how much she taught us. We’ll miss her dearly, but her music lives on through the artists she inspired.
Jennifer said, ‘Rest in peace, Debra.’
Jennifer gained fame after reaching the finals of American Idol with Debra in 2004.
Clay Aiken and other contestants talked about how much Debra helped them.
“I think it’s fair to say that no one was a better mentor, coach, teacher, or supporter to us Idol contestants than Byrd,” he wrote online.
“She spent more time with us than anyone else.
“I’ll never forget how she pushed us to look directly into the camera and connect with the people watching at home.”
Her presence made many lives better. I feel fortunate to have met and befriended her.”
Debra’s Work Life:
Debra was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and attended Kent State University before pursuing a career in music.
During her studies, she honed her skills at Karamu and Dobama Theaters.
After graduating, she became a backup singer in Barry’s band.
The song “Street Singin'” by Ladyflash reached the top 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1976, featuring her vocals.
Debra continued her career as a vocal coach on American Idol for 10 seasons before moving to The Voice, where she mentored contestants.
Career Highlights:
Debra’s career has been highly acclaimed. In 2018, she performed in the choir during a rendition of “Mighty River” at the Academy Awards.
She also worked with Bob Dylan as a coach during his “Hard to Handle: Bob Dylan in Concert” tour in Australia in the mid-1980s.
She also collaborated on the 1986 song “Band of the Hand” with Dylan, Stevie Nicks, and the late Tom Petty.
Her work in movies included projects like Sister Act II, The Lion King 1½, and The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride.
NBC hired her to handle vocal production for the 2019 Super Bowl tribute to Prince.
Later, she became chair of the vocal department at the Musicians Institute in Los Angeles when she wanted to return to academia.
